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FAQs for Employers

What are my responsibilities when considering job applicants?

Amongst the most important things to remember when considering job applications, is that what you are receiving is not the finished article. An apprentice is starting in a role based on the fact they will get to learn from industry-experienced professionals (and get paid while doing so). In our opinion, you must remember, we can teach skills; however, we can not teach behaviours and attitudes. Think about the type of person that would fit into your brand's cultures and values. A huge part of our recruitment process is how we weed through applicants to send you the best talent we can find, because of this we recommend that you interview all applicants we send to figure out who would be the best fit.

No apprentice will tick every box.

Do I pay the apprentices directly?

Just like any other employee, you pay your apprentice directly. You are also responsible for giving your apprentice their contract of employment.

Does my apprentice have to be 16-18?

No, an apprentice can be any age nowadays as long as they are over 16. We work with apprentices who have just left school, all the way to those in their late twenties with work experience - Equally, we have a number of university graduates on programme and even those older who are looking for a career change. Our candidates are all different ages with a wealth of different experience.

How much do I have to pay an apprentice?

Typically, we do not work with anyone who pays under £12,000 a year. For reference, you can always look at our live Vacancies page to see what other employers are offering.

What does 'Off the Job' training mean?

Off the job training refers to the 20% of the apprentices time dedicated to their apprenticeship work. Aside from the fixed training days, we can work with you to optimise the hours your apprentice does this work. As long as you have made us aware of your business needs, we will work with you to plan coaching/work sessions around your diary requirements. 

How long is an apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship programme lasts between 13 to 15 months (Plus end point assessment).

How do I manage an apprentice?

It is a myth that having an apprentice in your team means extra work for your line manager. Any new member of your team (whether junior or senior) needs an induction and a period of adjustment for their specific role, and more importantly to learn about the business. An apprentice, like managing anyone early in their career, requires guidance. With Apprentify your apprentice will come with their very own development coach to help with this! 

Are they employed by myself?

Yes they are - they are on our apprenticeship training programme, but they are like any other employee with a work contract, and pension. In this respect, they are like any other employee.

What are the costs of taking on an apprentice?

All apprenticeship programmes have their funding decided by the ESFA. Levy employers will have the cost deducted from their levy account. Non-levy employers will have 95% of the costs to be paid by the government, with you supplying the extra 5% as a co-investment fee. If your apprentice is between 16-18, there is no co-investment fee (100% funded).

Obviously, there is also the cost of the employee. Typically, we will not work with anyone paying under £12,000 annually.

What paperwork do I need to start an apprentice?

Firstly, you will need to set up a DAS account in order to secure your funding, for this you will need HMRC codes which you can obtain through your payroll. You also can apply for government incentives through this same DAS account such as the £1000 for hiring a 16-18-year-old. There are also a number of forms you will have to fill out and sign including:

  • Sign SLA
  • Fill out health and safety forms
  • Fill out prevent and safeguarding forms
  • Fill out employer statement (why your are hiring an apprentice)
  • Send us a copy of your employer liability insurance certificate
  • Send us a copy of the health and safety policy

We will offer support throughout this whole process to ensure there is no confusion or struggles.

Still have questions? Get in touch today

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Something still unanswered? Get in contact today to speak to one of our lovely members of staff and find out what it takes to become or hire an apprentice.

Get in touch with Apprentify

Get in contact with one of our lovely members of staff to find out more and discover how we are helping organisations across the UK become future-ready.

Call us on: 0333 996 0165